The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-10-15
THE WIDOW OF BARRIOS.
A Romantic Story Or the Guatcna.
liam Dictator.

large, dark and alternate with Spanish
languCr and fire. She is Sonora Bar
rios, the widow of the late dictator of
Guatemala. Sonora BaTTios occupies
the Kane villa, on the wooded knoll
on Bath road overlooking the sea.
The lady's face is sad. Perhaps she
thinks of the old life in Guatemala city.
Certainly her lines are cast in pleasant
places here. Society has taken her up
with a strong clasp. The luncheon Civ
enby Miss Dearv the other day in her
honor drew together some of the lead
ers of the New York upper world. Sc
nora Barrios was an heiress in Guate
mala and much younger than the mill.
tary ruler Of the sO-called Republic,
who was her husband. Barrios was
very much in the position of Louis XIV.
when he insisted that lie was the State.
1t was with power over life, death and
property that the Dictator ruled the
Guatemalans 1t is said that Barrios
saw the pretty dark-eyed heiress and
admired her. To admire and to WOO
was sufficient. The marriage was az
ranged wiJnout ado. and il proved
happy one. The Dictator became very
fond Of has young wife, and he treated
her with great kindness.
"You see, Rarrios wasn't bad fell
low, after ALL" saii an acquaintance
who had seen Sonora Barrios III her
native land. "He had to rule in the
manner best suited to the country. I
would like TO see a President govern
Guatemala according to the constitu-
tuition. They would fire him out in
less than n month. Let me tell you
story Of how he did things. There was
young fellow in Guatemala, a foreign
er, bright, well educated man, who
wrote some articles on the country,
published abroad, in which he
told the truth about Barrios,
and gave the autocrat credit for all his
good points and the general reform he
inaugurated. When Barrios read the
account of his own doings he became
interested and took steps to meet the
writer. He offered him a position in the
government, brt the recipient of his
favor was engaged i'll looking up some
mining scheme and declined One day
BarriOs sent request that the Young
man should visit him ut once ut the pal
ace. To hear was to obey, for a file of
soldiers would have accompanied the
second invitation. When he reached
the palace Barrios received him with a
stern face. You have heard of man
looking as black as a thundercloud 2
Well, Barrios would look that way when
h wished TO make an impression.
Senior, he said, 4 hear you do not
lead moral life here in my capital.
You are too fond of the la,lies. You are
not constant. Ihave watched you. I
like you. / would do YOU a favor.
wish You to'marry. Come To me next
week manning a time) and / will present
you to a young lady whom you will
marry with al due regard 10 your hon
or. Trust me and come BUends dis,
scnOr.'
"Iou may imagine thai there was an
astonished Young man seen to leave the
presence. of the dictator. When he
reached his lodgings be thought the
matter over, and concluded to. trust the
potentete who had taken such pecu-
liar method Of bestowing favor Ac-
cordingly he presented himself at the
appointed time. The dictator received
him with Il bland smile. and led him into
the presence of two ladies In black. One
was Young, with bsr, black ewes and
long Spanish hair. The other lady was
her mother. Barrios introduced them,
and told his protege that he had best be
married at once. The young man was
charmed by the appearance Of the girl,
and agreed without mnrmur. BarTios
would not tell him who his bride was
until after the wedding. Then he an
nounced that the young lady was an
heiress and owned big coffee hacienda
and other property. The marriage
turned ont very happily. Queer fellow,
that Barrios."